NBA hands Mavs' Felton 4-game suspension

08/07/2014 04:01 PM

08/07/2014 09:54 PM

<p>Dallas Mavericks guard Raymond Felton has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2014-15 NBA regular season for pleading guilty to gun charges in July, the NBA announced Thursday.</p>

New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Dallas Mavericks guard Raymond Felton has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2014-15 NBA regular season for pleading guilty to gun charges in July, the NBA announced Thursday.

Felton was sentenced to perform 500 hours of community service and was also issued a fine of $5,000 after his guilty plea, which stemmed from a February arrest while he played for the New York Knicks.

"Today we were made aware of Raymond Felton's suspension," Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said in a statement. "The Mavericks are working with Raymond and the court to develop a community service program that will have a positive and lasting impact on North Texas."

The Mavericks acquired Felton in a trade with New York in June. Just two days before the deal, Felton reached a plea agreement with prosecutors to avoid jail time. He will be able to perform his community service outside the state of New York.

Felton turned himself in to authorities in February, hours after a game against the Mavericks, and was charged with felony possession of a firearm. New York has strict gun possession laws, which normally carry automatic jail sentences.

Felton averaged a career-low 9.7 points and 5.6 assists for the Knicks last season.